Get to know the Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Tips for GERD

GERD is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by regurgitation of gastric contents into the esophagus. Clinical symptoms or manifestations that a person experiences when they get GERD are heartburn and regurgitation. Heartburn is a burning feeling in the chest accompanied by pain, while regurgitation is a bitter sour taste from the stomach on the tongue. Either of the two is sufficient to clinically diagnose GERD.

The increased prevalence of GERD can be caused by several factors such as :

- Old age

- Use of analgesics

- Consumption of certain foods and drinks

- Smoke high BMI

The differential diagnosis of GERD is as follows :

- Hiatus hernia

- Esophageal stricture

- Esophageal cancer

- Chest pain of cardiac origin

- Functional dyspepsia

The following is a determination of the cause of GERD :

- Consult with a doctor, gradually

-Temporary therapy, if unsuccessful further examination is carried out

Endoscopic examination is one type of examination with high accuracy value for diagnostics and therapy

- Endoscopy determines the cause and can proceed with treatment

Signs of emergency in GERD :

- If age > 50 years with the first symptom of dyspepsia

- Family history of gastrointestinal cancer

- Weight loss for no apparent reason

- Progressive difficulty swallowing

- Pain in the chest area when swallowing food

- Lack of blood without a clear cause

- Persistent vomiting

- Palpable tumor in the stomach or enlarged lymph nodes

- Eyes or skin look yellow and urinate like tea

When do we need an endoscope? Here's an explanation:

- Treatment usually no improvement within 2-4 weeks

- Interfering with routine activities due to symptoms of the disease

There are signs of digestive distress

The following are the advantages and disadvantages of gastrointestinal endoscopy:

Profit :

- Determine the shape of the abnormality clearly

- Increasing patient confidence in the disease

Lack :

- Higher costs

- Semi Invasive

Here are tips for treating GERD :

- Diet according to doctor's advice

- The duration of treatment varies according to the cause

- Definitive treatment is the main goal

- Endoscopy determines the accuracy in treatment

- Control of thought processes is an element supporting the success of therapy